Page 1 of Secret Love

CHAPTER ONE

WALLOWING

HENLEY

I hate it when the alarm goes off during a sex dream.

Lately, that’s the only place I’m getting any.

Rumor has it that professional athletes have pussy falling from the sky day and night, and while I’ve had my share of offers, they do me little good since I’ve always been a one-woman kind of guy. For years, that woman was my ex-wife, Bree, but when she decided she didn’t want to be married to me anymore, I tested out the casual-hookup waters.

Not for me.

Most of the time.

Between football and kids, there’s hardly time anyway.

But on mornings like today, when the blue balls are doing me in, I think maybe I should make time.

I’m not suffering from a broken heart. Bree and I are actually good friends. There’s just no time to go out and find my soulmate while I’m at the height of my career as the wide receiver for the Colorado Mustangs and raising my three daughters.

There’s also no time to wallow.

I take care of my situation in the shower and get dressed quickly. I made the mistake of not stopping by the store yesterday to get my daughters’ favorite bagels and cream cheese and I want to make sure they have them before school. They’re usually at their mom’s during the week, but Bree went out of town, so they’re with me.

I knock lightly on each door, making sure everyone’s awake.

Cassidy groans when I knock on her door, until I remind her that I need to run to the store.

“Okay, I’ll make sure we’re all ready by the time you get back,” she says.

We set this up last night before bed, and there is nothing my girl loves more than being in charge of her sisters. Lately, she’s been a grump of sizable proportions, so I’m celebrating the wins.

“Thanks, Cass,” I tell her. “Get up, girls. I’ll be back with bagels soon. Love you.”

They mutter their sleepy affection and agreement, and I hurry out the door. The parking lot of Aurora’s grocery store is nearly empty when I pull in, and I rush inside, hoping I can avoid anyone I know. For the most part, in the small town of Silver Hills, people are respectful of my privacy. The past three Super Bowl wins have changed that somewhat, with peoplecoming up to congratulate me or to talk about certain plays, but it’s not too bad.

With the cream cheese in hand, I reach out to grab the bag of bagels and a pretty hand with white nail polish bumps into mine.

“Oh, sorry!” a soft voice says, and I turn to look.

The greenest eyes stare up at me from behind black-rimmed glasses, and for a moment I’m quiet as I take in her dark hair pulled back in a bun, those eyes, and her full pink lips. She’s wearing a white button-down shirt, tan dress pants, and a matching jacket…accountant maybe? Something very buttoned up. Sexy librarian comes to mind. Her face is compelling and friendly, a smile playing at the corner of her lips.

“Looks like there’s only one bag left of the cinnamon raisin bagels,” she says.

“Go ahead. You take it,” I say.

“No, I think you were here first. I wasn’t paying attention. Those cinnamon rolls up there were distracting me.” She points up a few shelves, and I spot the tantalizing cinnamon rolls.

My eyes narrow on them. “Oh, those look dangerous.”

She laughs and picks up the package of rolls. “I like to live on the dangerous side.” Her eyes are laughing and my heart does a little stutter-step.

Wait—is she flirting with me? I think she might be flirting with me.

God, I’m horrible at this.

I chuckle. “For someone who lives on the dangerous side, you look awfully—” I clear my throat as I wave my hand over her conservative ensemble.

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